"Partnership in the gospel"

In Sunday's Fight for Joy conversation we looked at three characteristics of a good fight from Philippians 1:5-6. 1). partnership (or fellowship) in the gospel ("for your fellowship in the gospel" 1:5), 2). a passionate confidence in the sway of the gospel ("being confident of this very thing..." 1:6a), and 3). purposefully living out the gospel (..."begun a good work in you..." 1:6b).


As a fan of Pixar films (Cars, Planes, Up & Toy Story), I used as an illustration how each of these stories juxtapose characters who initially clash but then become partners in a mission. In Toy Story, Woody ( the boy Andy's go-to favorite toy) clashes with Buzz Lightyear for fear he will loose his status as favorite. The story ends with Woody and Buzz friends because they battled together to return to Andy. In Up its Carl and Russel. In Cars it's Mater and Lightning McQueen. You get the picture.

These Pixar writers are on to something important. Partnership/fellowship is not built on sameness as much as it is on a shared mission. As Christians we've been tasked with the greatest mission the world has ever known. When we lock arms in this mission we experience the "fellowship in the gospel" that wrote of to the Philippians.